Mirena Coil - I want up to date reviews before I decide.

[Garnier]

On tranexamic acid for very heavy periods. Can't leave the house for 24 hours plus each month. GP yet again, recommending this coil. I would if I knew it really helped, but terrified of bleeding even more.

Who has one or had one and would you recommend?
Ta

I hate it. I want to get mine removed now. Had it in for just over a year, so feel like I've given it a good chance. I had it put in for excessive bleeding - but not flooding, like you, just duration. I was bleeding for 25-30 days, then have maybe 4 or 5 days off, then back on. It was fairly light with occasional floods - often just a pantyliner or light tampon and then 3 or 4 days like a period. The gynae consultant showed me the scan and I have endometriosis and Adenomyosis as well as PCOS, but other than the bleeding was fairly symptom-free, and never had PMT.

Now I have lighter bleeding/bloody discharge, but still need to use a pantyliner (and can't use tampons), I get it for a couple of weeks then a short break, then a couple of weeks. I also have horrendous cramps, for 3-4 days in a 7-10 day period, I have acne and facial hair. I've also not had sex since it was put in - we've tried but the pain is excruciating. I've become a different person, I am so angry all the time.

It has to go...

I have heavy periods, my doctor prescribed maxamic ? Acid but all that did was give me uncontrollably diarrhea! At the begining of December I had the mirena coil fitted. It hurt like fuck! I had spotting for 5 days and then a heavy (but not as heavy as before but still heavy iswim) period for 16 fucking days. I have had to go back on iron tablets. I have been period free for a couple of day and I may be having spotting again!
This I have been told can go on for 6 months before settling. I am not sure I can cope with it all.

When mine went in, I didn't have a period for 84 days tho I was breast feeding. I was exclusively breast feeding and got my period back after 4 months and was pretty pissed off.

After the 84 days, they pretty much settled back to my normal pattern, 23 days.
I keep record and have had a period (see post above because they are practically non existent) 23,27,23,23,21,21 day cycles over the last few months. I've had my coil 4 years and will have another for sure.

I've had mine for just over 5 years now. Insertion was awful but after a day of cramping all was good. No periods at all.

However, the inability to shift any weight and the facial hair has been a pain so I won't be having it replaced, when they eventually manage to get it out.

I went for a smear and asked for it to be removed as it was due out and the nurse couldn't find the strings or the coil so was sent for an ultrasound. Coil is where it should be but doesn't want to come out. GP has tried, FP have tried and seemingly the next step is a general to get it out. We moved area last month so am no doubt going to have to go through the whole process again before I can finally have it out

I had one for 6 months - for heavy bleeding.

Fitting was painless and easy, but I then had 6 months of bleeding, weight gain, bad skin and just generally feeling PMT-ish and horrible. In the 6 months it was in, I had less than 3 weeks without bleeding. It's hard to explain just why it was so horrible, but it really really was.

I so wanted it to work, but in the end I would rather cope with the heavy periods (by which I mean 8 days long and using 2-3 boxes of lillets ultra in the first 3 days).

The GP took it out without any fuss at all. I wouldn't try one again.

I'm 51 and on my second Mirena. I had it put in due to very heavy periods. It took about a year to settle down - I had light bleeding on and off for months. However, I haven't had a period for years now.

My current Mirena has been in for 6 years. My GP is happy to leave it in for 7 years in the hope I'll be through the menopause by then. If I'm not, I would have another one like a shot.

I love mine. It's been in 4 years now & I got it in in my mid-40s for heavy periods. I can honestly say it has changed my life - no periods & no side effects.

Mines been great. Periods before were very heavy (I used biggest heavy flow tampons and night time towels just to pop out). Periods are now at most a slight tinge for a day. They've been so non existent I've had to invest in some cheap pregnancy test strips as occassionally I think what if...

It was slightly unconfortable, on a par with a smear, having it put in. Probably as much due to not really liking being semi naked with someone making polite small talk.

I will be having another one put in next year when this one is due to expire.

love mine too, no problems at all, it's heavenly after that awful copper coil.

Love mine so far. Had it since August for contraception, had mild spotting here and there but nothing requiring more than a pantyliner - wonderful!
Did have a bit of rage/feeling down in the first couple of months although can't be totally sure it was down to the coil as had other stuff going on, but would say my moods are fairly normal. A few spots too but nothing bad, hoping that will ease with time.
I've also been consistently losing weight (been trying) since I got it with no issues, been easy in fact, not been this slim for years. So weight gain is not a given.
I would recommend giving it a try. I didn't find the insertion too bad either. Again, I guess it's luck with these things. But nothing will change if you don't try one, with potential to be better if you do.

I am nearly 50. I had mine fitted almost 3 years ago because of having to commit to contraception as part of the adoption process, and to try and help with my worsening mid-cycle pain and heavy periods. My GP also thought it would carry me through to menopause.

I was already down for a laparoscopy so they put the Mirena in then - I can't say what the fitting was like!

My main experience was utterly horrendous. It didn't have any impact on the pains and barely affected my period duration or heaviness. It made me moody, angry, murderous, and ultimately suicidal - all the time. I'd been a bit low sometimes in the past, I had never wanted to scream myself hoarse or lain in bed thinking of how to kill myself.

I found it slowed my up-to-then successful weightloss, even on 1200-1500 calories a day and running 3-4 times a week.

I had it taken out about 9 or so months later and cried with the relief.

I loathed it and would say if you have ever had any issues with hormonal contraception to avoid it if you can.

Was on cerazette for over 3 years (half of it during lockdowns)… spotting 1-2x a year, so great for not having periods, exactly what I wanted but mental health was something else, think brain fog, anxiety and severe depression ... (Male) GP's response was: no it's not the pill's fault, we can either prescribe antidepressants or you can self refer to mental health charity for help ... Started spotting every day not long after for about 9 months until the boyfriend forced me to speak to a GP ... Took 3 months for them to take me seriously and refer to gyno and ultrasound etc and put me on combined pill and told me to take it continuously for 2-3 months ... Month in on combined pill started heavy bleeding to the point that I became anaemic ... Ultrasound confirmed a fibroid ... Having it removed next week (if NHS doesn't cancel the surgery again) and having the Morena inserted as I'm too old and to fat for the combined pill (according to my GP when I asked for a refill in December; weight hasn't changed since I was first put on the combined pill but whatever)

This thread is eight years old

So my experience is no longer relevant?!

Great for me. I'm a similar age and am on my second one. Really wish I'd had one earlier. Heavy periods every 3 weeks before, now just spotting or very light bleeding. I got hormonal headaches before I had it, and it hasn't cured those. I would definitely recommend. It's easy to have removed if it doesn't work.

Tbh. No

DD recently had it removed. It controlled periods brilliantly but she put in huge amounts of weight, developed v bad acne, was moody and had no energy. Since having it removed she's lost 10+kg and is a different person. When I had one I had recurrent thrush which resolved as soon as I had it removed. Sorry.......